This week Peter Wallace listed 52 things he wished he could tell his younger self… the list touched on issues of faith a few times and I thought I would share the ideas here. He states:
- The church (or any religious configuration) is composed of human beings, and so it possesses many human failings, which often reflect your own. Surrender to this.
- There is nothing more sublime than serving in worship with your brothers and sisters. Unless maybe it’s participating in a service project with your brothers and sisters to help those who are in poverty and need.
- You will never waste any moment you spend on getting to know Jesus better. You can do that by reading the gospels, by prayerfully reflecting on who he was, what he did, what he calls you to be and do, and by being in community with others on the same quest.
- Not everything in the Bible is worth studying. In fact, some of it can even be harmful to true faith if taken literally. Read the Bible thoughtfully, open-mindedly, prayerfully, with discernment. Focus on the Psalms and the Gospels and you can’t go wrong.
- All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well. (He admits this is from Julian of Norwich, and posts it as an act of desperate hope.)
- God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. (he admits he borrowed that one, too)
Here are my own reflections
- Yes, yes and yes… but I’d love to know how to recover from being hurt and how he learns to trust after you get burned. Any thoughts on that?
- This is certainly true, and seeing both of these as key components of what it means to be a worshiping community is essential for a healthy view of what worship and liturgy is! I would only add that I believe solidarity calls us to more then taking on projects together but also to find our own identity as connected to those we serve.
- Yep… but I’d also add sacraments
- Some Psalms can be very dangerous too (Psalm 137:9), but in that struggle there can be a great deal of life. I’d also add that it’s important to read the book with the insights of others who have also thought and struggled through the texts as conversation partners.
- This is Radical hope, and I only believe it when grace and love grasp me with both hands… might it happen more each day.
- This is a simple truth, but I think it is the truth that sets us free.
The rest of the list is great too… how would you respond to these tid-bits of wisdom?
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